Hong Kong surprises itself with the exuberance of protests

[Wd40]

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/s ... ing-police

Apparently this is something rare in HK and the Hang Seng index is crashing today.

Hong Kong's loss Singapore's gain?

[zzm9980]

Too early to tell. I doubt it though, it'll probably just depress markets everywhere for a while and kill off the spirit of a great city.

[brian_singapore]

I think it will largely depend on how the Chinese government reacts.

Tianamen round 2 would be devastating. Ignoring the protests and seeing them peter out (not suggesting they will or won't) - little will change. Greater political freedom then currently what's on offer long-term boost for Hong Kong.

(post 100!)

[Strong Eagle]

Too early to tell. I doubt it though, it'll probably just depress markets everywhere for a while and kill off the spirit of a great city.

And, Taiwan will see that Beijing is not to be trusted... any moves toward reconciliation will be thwarted as the Taiwanese see that their own democratic institutions will be undermined, just as the Communists are doing in Hong Kong.

Sad day... and proof that the Chinese government continues to be little more than a corrupt dictatorship.

[ScoobyDoes]

This is what happens when you start off promising something, then take it away. Not sure how the Chinese government thought something like this COULDN'T happen but it livens up my trip next week anyhow....

[Sergei82]

Looking at the world today, it definitely seems like I need to urgently requalify myself from banking to defense industry - my IT skills will be more in demand over there very soon.

[Barnsley]

I figure the Govt in Beijing will just let this run its course.

Have read a few postings on this saying Hong Kongers should accept that they are Chinese and stop moaning.

[ScoobyDoes]

Have read a few postings on this saying Hong Kongers should accept that they are Chinese and stop moaning.

NEVER goin' to happen.

With all that has happened in HK the past couple of decades the locals feel more distant from the Mainland than perhaps even they did before the Handover. I mean culturally and in the way attitudes are different still.

You know, I was there a month or two back and looking for a bottle of Lucozade just as a thirst quencher. No stock, there was a run on it and the Chinese had taken the lot......from that supermarket and those around about it. Everybody knows about the 'Milk Powder" issue but this is replicated in more and more product, some you wouldn't even think of, and it has added to the distance between the two locations.

Personally, the government a commitment and it should stick with it. It is ironic, however, that it was Deng's idea in the first place.

[movingtospore]

Totally agree Scooby. I work with a number of Hong Kongers is this is something that goes very deep. A number of them also have spent a lot of time outside of Hong Kong in Canada, Australia, the US and have strong ideas about openness and democracy. We shall see...

[Nihility]

No wonder HK wants nothing to do with the Mainland...

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/o ... ity-checks

[Wd40]

Nice article:

http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2 ... e-moscow-s

[Sergei82]

I bet all these "investors" will urinate their pants hundreds of times before they agree on sanctions against China, if it comes to that in case China violently ends HK protests. Major banks will be squealing for peaceful dialog most of all. But maybe some jobs will return from HK and China back to Singapore...

[rajagainstthemachine]

I hope nothing ever untoward happens to my favorite city in Asia. I've always felt happy there. I hope they can find some amicable solution together.
HK needs the mainland and china needs HK, symbiosis is key.

[Barnsley]

I hope nothing ever untoward happens to my favorite city in Asia. I've always felt happy there. I hope they can find some amicable solution together.
HK needs the mainland and china needs HK, symbiosis is key.

I am not sure how both sides can come out of this with a win.

During its time when it was "not part of China" then Hong Kong has evolved slightly differently, hence the two sides really are coming from two different direction.

Much like the different generations of emigrees from China to various parts of the world , depending on the era you or your ancestors left China you will have a different perspective on things.

Thus one Chinese shoe really doesnt fit all.

[Sergei82]

It doesn't look good. The leader says unconditional "no" to all protesters' demands. No compromise, nothing. Insulting a good 100 thousand people (add those who didn't go out to protest, but feel the same - it may be even millions) is very explosive thing. Even Putin didn't do it last year in Moscow.

Protesters need to be given something, otherwise it will look like they went out in vain, which is psychologically unbearable to most. Something may be at least promise, but not just "no, and that is all".